wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Eric Cato from B'klyn July 03, 2007 - 10:19AM

  The fact that many in the press neglect to mention in their profiles of Libby is that he held two official positions in the Bush Administration: 1. Cheney’s Chief of Staff; 2. Special Assistant to the President. In the early days of this scandal, the Assistant to the President position was mentioned, however after the first few days, the official relationship to Bush was consistently omitted. Had the official connection not been played down, more press focus would have been given to this matter all along and it would have been much more difficult for Bush to ‘commute’.

  
  
• [2] steve from Baltimore July 03, 2007 - 10:19AM

  Dear BL,

  I'm a life long Democrate and left wing liberal, and I think it's ok that Bush kept Libby out of jail. He was basically accussed of the same thing Clinton did, lying under oath. It is the role of the executive branch to hand out pardons however they like (e.g. like Clinton and Frank Rich). I think the real crime was the Iraq war, and that cannot be investigated in a legal way under our current system. I think we need a better way to censure the execuative branch and need to return the power to declare war to the Congress. A legal battle in to actual law breaking by the execuative branch is largely pointless. It's too slow a process and has too high a standard to find guilt. Simply the executive branch has this power to keep people out of jail. If you don't like it blame the people who voted for Bush. Let's make a new system whereby citzens or they elected representatives can censure immoral (but legal permissible) behaivor.

  Steve from Baltimore

  
  
• [3] Kai A Diers from NJ July 03, 2007 - 10:19AM

  Montesquieu is crying today and America hopefully too. The seperation of powers is completely destroyed. Clinton, Bush, Ford-- this right to pardon is a remnant of fedual colonial times and unworthy of a real democracy.

  
  
• [4] Eric Cato from B'klyn July 03, 2007 - 10:22AM

  With a commutation, Libby does not forego his 5th Amendment rights. Had he been pardoned, he would no longer be able to invoke the 5th.

  
  
• [5] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ July 03, 2007 - 10:23AM

  Also, by having the commutation, Libby may continue to appeal his conviction and can take the Fifth at any questioning--Congressional, grand jury, etc.

  So, ta da! Not only Libby gets a get-out-of-jail-free card--the Bush maladministration gets one as well.

  Then, the full pardon comes at the end of Bush's term. Does Libby get his law license back automatically then???

  
  
• [6] mack from Chelsea July 03, 2007 - 10:23AM

  In understandable outrage, your liberal need to go Tsk Tsk is blinding you to 1. we already know the President and his men are criminal and have no respect for law or justice 2. They are politicians and privateers first and last. So who benefits? Perhaps they have ralized Libby might still maake some deal or change in prison and/or they want to give the Republican candidates a way to distance themselves from Bush without having to do so on the basis of policy, while aiding a friend

  
  
• [7] Richard from Hoboken July 03, 2007 - 10:24AM

  Everyone complains about executive priviledge until they have it. You got to admire his arrognace...I do.

  
  
• [8] sheila massey from washington heights July 03, 2007 - 10:25AM

  Great. Bush makes (again) a mockery of the rule of law. Does this mean I can stop paying my taxes?

  
  
• [9] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ July 03, 2007 - 10:25AM

  Ah, mack, I hadn't thought of the longer term strategy of Repubs getting a legal separation, as it were. neat.

  
  
• [10] hjs from NYC July 03, 2007 - 10:25AM

  it's the hypocrisy that hurts

  happy birthday America!

  
  
• [11] hjs from NYC July 03, 2007 - 10:29AM

  dear sheila massey

  only if your a billionair are you allow to skip taxes.

  
  
• [12] Kevin J. Lynch from Long Valley, NJ July 03, 2007 - 10:32AM

  King George I? I knew Paris Hilton would do more time then Scooter & Enron's Ken Lay combined. Is Vice President Dick Cheney making up for Nixon being removed from office and restoring the imperial President?

  
  
• [13] Mitchell Bogard from Manhattan July 03, 2007 - 10:32AM

  Your guest worries about the effects of a jail term on "ordinary people". Libby was a govt. employee involved in the destruction of another govt. employee's life and safety. Hardly an ordinary person. He also would have served his sentence in a prison for white collar criminals. I wouldn't shed too many crocodile tears over that.

  
  
• [14] bill of rights from NYC July 03, 2007 - 10:34AM

  hjs nails it. Happy Birthday America. So glad we're hitting our 231st birthday fully engaged in torture and a war that we launched against a non-aggressor nation, wiretapping our citizens without reasonable suspicion, and having a President and Vice President who believes they are utterly above the law and contempt.

  Absolutely appalling.

  
  
• [15] Christian from Englewood, NJ July 03, 2007 - 11:44AM

  Rich white politicians don't serve real jail time anyway. Bush seems to have succeeded in bringing a hailstorm of criticism on both sides of the political spectrum by denying Libby a 30 month stay at club Fed. A bad example set by commuting what could be seen as an excessive punishment. Well, if you ask me, putting a recreational marijuana user in prison with murders, rapists, and other disturbed individuals is MUCH more excessive than 30 months in club FED for a corrupt politician.

  
  
• [16] Joan from Eastchester July 03, 2007 - 12:11PM

  After Bush's commutation of Libby's jail sentence, my opinion of the justice system in America under the W. Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, Rove, etc., tenure could not get any lower.

  Where is the justice for Valerie Plame Wilson-an honorable citizen working for the CIA and the good of America?

  
  
• [17] James Rosar from Roanoke, VA July 03, 2007 - 01:35PM

  Loyalty will Set You Free!

  Add this to the growing list of Actions that aren't quite Bad Enough to be Grounds for Impeachment with the Time we have Left to do so.

  And as the time left for impeachment decreases, is there any doubt that the level of offense will increase?

  "To Infinity, And Beyond!!!" (thanks, Pixar)